from east to west, finding balance in the space between.

self-care

It’s hard to believe, but a year and a half has passed since the beginning of my “unplanned year” experiment.

To recap, despite having an amazing job, one that I had been dreaming about and working towards for years, I felt compelled to make a big change. I wanted to press pause on my life – to intentionally create space, and see what would come of it. I honestly didn’t know what the end result would be. Had I been asked to bet on it, my money would have been on me returning to teaching with a deeper appreciation for the stability it provides; I have been so surprised by what has emerged instead.

My dad was in an 80’s Canadian rock band called Haywire (and yes, he had ‘the hair’). Dad toured until I was 7 years old, which included a stint in Japan and 6 months in Norway – and this was before the days of Skype. Even with two young kids at home, my mom made it look easy; she helped me put together these tips for making a long distance relationship work.

I’ve been described, rather diplomatically, as having “a bias toward action.” From age 12-22, my most valuable possession was my agenda… and it wasn’t being used to keep track of all the super cool parties I was definitely invited to. I scheduled every free moment and I wasn’t able to turn off the organizing, regimented part of my brain. It was a struggle because I always felt pressure to be doing or achieving something, and I felt guilty when I wasn’t maximizing my time. Trying to relax was actually a stressful experience. Then I took a giant chill pill, just like everyone told me to do, and I was cured! Just kidding. The changes have been super gradual, but I have learned how to relax. Below I’ve shared five self-care practices that have helped me discover the art of relaxation.